Gloucester County was awarded three grants totaling over $72,000 and, as part of a regional partnership with Northumberland, Richmond and Westmoreland counties, received another $215,485 in funding announced this week by the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority.

The grants were part of $22.7 million in awards to communities across the commonwealth for opioid abatement and remediation efforts awarded on May 23 and announced Tuesday.

Last June, the OAA announced its first major round of awards to cities and counties, totaling nearly $23 million, followed by a subsequent announcement of funds for state agencies totaling nearly $11 million. The total amount of awards made to date exceeds $56 million.

“These grants will help communities across the commonwealth develop and expand programs to prevent opioid addiction, to provide treatment, and to support people in recovery,” said Sen. Todd Pillion (R-Abingdon), chairman of the OAA Board of Directors. “Virginia fought back against com...